The panels work to trap solar energy using UV ray filters that protect the inside of the building from heat, thereby cutting down on air conditioning usage and costs.

Caja de Compensación Los Heroes is an independent, non profit institution whose role is to administrate social security funds for economic help for retirees through small loans. Since the people who visit the office the most are senior citizens who no longer work, the architects wanted to create a relaxed, fun environment. The use of colored panels to line the sides of the building accomplishes that goal in a way that required much less materials and energy than tearing down the existing structure or erecting a new one.

But the transformation didn’t end there. The interior of the building was also revamped and given a circular core that also speaks to a more easy-going, fluid atmosphere. The interior temperature is regulated by the same bright double facade that gives Los Heroes so much character. The panels work to trap solar energy using UV ray filters that protect the inside of the building from heat, thereby cutting down on air conditioning usage and costs.